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External Relations Manager
Alight

Alight came to Sudan in 2004 as one of the first humanitarian responders to the emergency needs of some 500,000 war-affected IDPs and host populations in the Tulus and Gereida corridors in South Darfur. In 2014, Alight expanded services its reach to include East Darfur. Today, Alight serves displaced populations and host communities in Kassala, Gedaref, West Kordofan, and East and South Darfur states. Alight provides lifesaving humanitarian action, recovery, and development services in these five states, with a country office based in Khartoum.

Field offices in Kassala, Gedaref, Nyala, El Daein,serve as the key state hubs for program delivery. Alight’s staff is more than 99 percent Sudanese, with nearly 800 full-time staff joined by over 400 incentive and community health and protection workers in delivering lifesaving programs and durable solutions in Sudan.

Alight is registered in Sudan and works closely with Federal and State Line Ministries to carry out its humanitarian and development mandates.

 


 Grade Level: Manager Level
 Supervisor: Country Director
 No. of Post: 1
 Duty Station: Khartoum with possible visits to the field
 Duration: Fixed Term/Full time (12 months)
 Closing Date: 10 March 2021

 
 Background:

ALIGHT (previously known as The American Refugee Committee - ALIGHT) Sudan Program started in 2004 in response to the emergency needs of some 600,000 war-affected IDPs and host populations in the Tulus and Gereida corridors in South Darfur. In 2014, Alight expanded services into underserved villages in the East Darfur, and more recently in Kassala state, East of Sudan.  The overall aim of the program is to improve the well-being of the target populations by addressing their immediate humanitarian needs and contributing to long-term community stabilization. 

 

With oversight and direction from the Head Office in Khartoum, the field offices in Nyala, South Darfur Ed Daein, & Adilla East Darfur and our recent program in Kassala State, we support the delivery of primary health care services at 30 rehabilitated community clinics, one reproductive health unit and one BEmOC facility.  Water and sanitation services, including the construction/rehabilitation of boreholes, water yards, household and institutional latrines and hygiene promotion messages, are also delivered in over 70 conflict-affected communities. A small agriculture component assists resettling IDPs and host populations with seeds, tools and extension services to grow their own food.  

 

In 2020, in partnership with UNHCR, we are providing health and WASH services to 100,000 mainly Eritrean refugees who reside in the camps of Shagarab I, II, III, K26 and Girba Refugee Camps in Kassala state. We are currently operating 5 health facilities in the camps and WASH interventions related to hygiene promotion and sanitation. This is our first year of operations with UNHCR and we hope to scale up our program in 2021. 

 

With support from IOM’s Rapid Response Fund (RRF) we are delivering a COVID-19 preparedness and response intervention in Kassala state. We are focusing our response on Khashma Girba locality and specifically helping the isolation center located in the main hospital. The overall aim of the program is to improve the well-being of the target populations by addressing their immediate humanitarian needs and contributing to long-term community stabilization. 

 

Alight programs enable resiliency in rural communities in both regions in the face of recurring conflicts and natural disasters such as drought, flooding and environmental degradation. The goal is to aid transition to early recovery in Darfur, in an equitable and environmentally sustainable manner. 

With an annual budget of between $20-25m, the Sudan Program has 10 expatriates and over 1000 national staff some of who are seconded from the line Ministries of the Sudan government, which covers Health, WASH and protection activities.

 

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:

The External Relations Manager will be supporting the Country Director in ensuring that Alight has professional relationships with key Ministries and Government staff and leading on liaison issues. S/he will ensure Alight’s legal registration and compliance to the Government of Sudan regulations governing international NGO operations and presence in Sudan.

 

The ERM will support field team in managing relations and interactions with State Government bodies and officials. S/he will also analyze the Government policy and practice including maintaining overview of regulations governing INGO in Sudan.

 



 
 Duties and responsibilities:

Liaison and Compliance:

  • Lead on communication and liaison with national and state government Ministries and HAC. 
  • Responsible for ensuring that ALIGHT registration in Sudan is renewed and approved timely.
  • Liaise with key government staff to ensure understanding of Government approval, reporting requirements and compliance.
  • Support the Country Program Manager during submission of Technical Agreements, following up to ensure timely submission of required documents and progress of the submission request.
  • Support the State Program Manager with necessary Government and Ministry approvals for newly established projects.
  • Provide support to Liaison Officer for visa and work permits process for expatriates and visitors to ALIGHT Sudan.
  • Participate in negotiations with National government bodies and advise the Senior Program Managers and Senior Managers in State levels during negotiations state level governments.
  • Attend coordination meetings with Government Officials on behalf of ALIGHT in Sudan.
  • Attend coordination meetings with international NGOs, other civil society organizations and private sectors.
  • Maintain and update database of key contacts with Government Officials, partners of ALIGHT in Sudan both in Khartoum and State levels, international NGOs, United Nations, Civil Society Organizations and national NGO partners.

 

Government Policy

  • Keep abreast with the Government Policy framework and implementation, particularly relevant to the development sectors and communicate accordingly to the Senior Managers.
  • Advise the CD and Senior Managers in regards to Government of Sudan policies and processes relevant to ALIGHT establishment and operations in Sudan.
  • Provide guidance to the Country Operations Manager in regards to reporting requirements
  • Maintain Government approval and report tracking system.
  • Maintain filing system for communications with Government Officials
  • Provide guidance to the Country Operations Manager and State Managers for preparation of program/project reports for submissions to Government.

 

Other

  • Perform any other duties that may be requested by the Line Manager as necessary.

 
 Minimum Qualification, Skills and Experience Required:

  • Bachelor’s degree in international relations/social science, or relevant fields with 5 years of experience in relevant role.

 

KEY BEHAVIORS & ABILITIES

  • Excellent verbal and written communication in English and Arabic.
  • Excellent information technology skills (IT).
  • Understanding of Government of Sudan policies, procedures and regulations for NGO operations in Sudan.
  • Excellent diplomacy, representation and negotiation skills. 
  • Ability to work under pressure with multiple demands and changing needs.
  • In line with ALIGHT code of conduct, able to demonstrate professional ethics and experience of working with a high degree of confidentiality.
  • Highly organized and have a methodical approach to work, must be able to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines. Execution excellence, efficiency, accuracy, flexibility and silent running are key success measures of this role.
  • Collaborative approach, and ability to build relationships and management conflict and conflicting priorities effectively.

IMPORTANT

All interested candidates are requested to upload their application letters, updated CV, educational qualifications certificates, training, experience certificates and birth certificates/ national ID document sudanjob.net.  Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the written test and interview

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.



We are on a journey to build Alight, a new platform of amazing people and organizations providing lifesaving services and creating breakthrough solutions for and with the displaced. WeAreAlight.org
 

Alight is an Equal Opportunity Employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.  Alight complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

 








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